Deal

Let's face it... In negotiation you need to get comfortable with experiencing rejection. It is highly likely that they are going to reject your opening offer...and if they don't, it's highly likely that you haven't done your research properly and opened extreme enough.

Warsaw revealed some serious divisions amongst groups of countries, and the language used became ever more heated. Indeed, the negotiations may well have raised the curtain on what will be some very difficult discussions when countries come forward with their 'contributions' from the end of next year.

So it seems that if Lopez signs the deal, Quantum will own 35% of the team with options for a complete buyout in the future. It also could signify that Nico Hulkenberg may have a reason to get excited about 2014 as the German has been linked to the team should the Quantum deal go through.

Lewis grew up in the McLaren system and has been a part fo their driver stable for 14 years but there comes a time when young man must make the decisions, good ro bad, that will define his own career on terms he feels he has singlehandedly chosen.

I am most certainly biased as I consider the Spa Francorchamps circuit one of the crowning achievements of motorsport excitement and while the cars all take Eau Rouge flat these days, it is still a fantastic venue and as our own Mark Hallam points out, it is one of the few races that is still affordable to attend.

McLaren, I've learned over the years, doesn't do anything half-hearted. n fact, they are very selective in who they work with and who they choose to lend their name to. One looks no further than the myriad games, toys and swag bereft of their name to see that truism.